Three words for 2011

Happy New Year Readers and friends,

After reading this recent New Year's blog post, I thought strongly on the three words that I want to drive this year for me. These are the words that I came up with.

Faith
I have a trusting relationship with God. He is my provider, my protector, my everything. Faith in Him has brought me through alot. However, sometimes I waver and become stressed and overwhelmed. Stressed over things I have no control over, overwhelmed with situations that He promised to take care of. Over and over again He has proven Himself to me and yet I worry. So for this year I want to have a stronger Faith in God and what He is able to accomplish in my life. For my family, for my business, for me. My pastor's new year message inspired me, He encouraged those who did not see their dreams become a reality in 2010 to hold on and know that God will bring them to fruition , maybe in 2011 but definitely when you are mature enough to handle the promises. Our waiting is simply time for God to mature us so that we could handle the fulfillment of the promise. It is almost like wanting to have your drivers license at 13....it will happen but you will have to wait. If you get it at 13 you will not be mature enough to handle the rules of the road, the quick response sometimes needed as driver, the caution that comes with knowing the dangers of misusing your vehicle. I added this at this for this work but it could also be attached to word #3

Complete

I want to complete the things that I set out to do. I sometimes set so many goals for structure at home and for me personally. I have set goals for my business and I want to learn to structure myself to complete these goals. This is year I want to complete my Bachelors degree, I only need 6 credits and I have sat around for 5 years and not completed what I needed to. I would like to start a weight loss regimen and complete it, since I am entering the Fabulous Forties...I want to be fabulous. I want to complete the blogs I start, there have so many starts in my head and on paper and they never seem to get completed. So for everything I start I want to set a completion time and/or date in 2011.

Dream

I was watching my favorite wedding planner last night...David Tutera, and he told the bride to never stop dreaming. I never want to stop dreaming and I want to dream big for this year and for the rest of my life. It has always been something that I try to instill in my girls and should be something I follow for myself. I want to trust that my dreams can come true. This word is really closely tied to my first word, For "I can do all thing, through Christ who strenghtens me" Phil 4:13. I have to have faith that "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in (me) will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" Phil 1:6.

Thinking about Purpose

Last night I had a wonderful opportunity to gather with some friends and sit at the feet of a Pastor, friend, mentor. We laughed and reminisced about the past, he has been instrumental in shaping all of us at some point or another when we were young. In the his true nature he posed a question about purpose, Do you feel that you have accomplished or are working in purpose? If not how and what do you need to do to start working on that? Wow what a question , not an easy one. As we all starting talking, he would ask questions to help us dig deeper and find a deeper meaning. He picked up on a word that we all used at some point....passion. We all talked about a deep passion we had for this or that. Passion that was either driving us or should be driving. How do we get to fulfill our passion and how does it tie into the bigger plan that God has for us.

It was great how he broke down vision. He said that we need to see the end first and then fill in the blanks to get there. He also said don't get to caught up in figuring out the details because God already knows them. When you think that nothing is happening, you should not be sitting around complaining, you should be be preparing for when God makes the provision for the vision. Breaking down the word Pro-before and vision- to see. God has already seen it. God has also given us free will so He gives us the plan or vision and we need to do something with it.

We are all filled with potential, our mentor mentioned that at the end of our lives we should be empty of potential. So if there is anything you are saying I wish I could have done it , then you should do it.

2Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. What a great thought that God has given us this word to remind us that he has our back.

If you are pregnant with passion, Give birth to the vision.

At the end like paul we could say "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" 2 Timothy 4:7

Cut down on the amount of potting soil needed by crumpling plastic bags to fill the bottom of a deep pot (just be sure that you don’t cover the drainage hole, if there is one). | 50 All-Time Favorite New Uses for Old Things | Real Simple

I saw these uses for things around the house and thought I would share. Really interesting

.50 All-Time Favorite New Uses for Old Things | Real Simple

I am the World's Greatest!!

Everyone should have that song in their lives that gets them out of the dumps and encourages them to move forward. I have several..this one in particular was being sung by pre-schoolers at their graduation and I thought "how appropriate!". They need to receive all the validation they need as early as possible. Before they are tainted by the world and as a friend put it the Eeyores of the world come into her life.

When I think about the words, it is not a bragging statement its the words that you need to move past those deep valleys in your life. It is that motivational song for the struggling entrepreneur (me) , realizing that you will make it (yes I am crying again)

My baby graduated

How time flies? Last week were two monumental events in my baby's life.

She graduated for the first time and she turned five. I don't know which was most exciting for her since turning 5 seemed to be the equivalent of turning 21. She did ask me if now (that she is five) she could do anything she wants LOL....ROFLOL. Of course not I answered to her dismay.

As I watched her on the stage tears came to my eyes ( ok I had streams of tears on my face). I remembered bringing her home from the hospital and know she was on stage singing and recieving her first diploma. I thought that each time she got one 5th grade, Middle School, High School, College ...etc, I will cry, silently reliving all of the previous graduations and all of the first in her life. My older girls laughed at me, but I let them know that I did the same at their graduations. These are the moments that make you smile and cry at the same time. It will go in my memory bank for use on emotionally rainy days.

Does God still speak to us?

Does God still speak to us today? You have probably read the story with Moses and the burning bush or any other prophet that heard from God. I sometimes wish I could have a burning bush. To hear God clearly, to find direction clearly. I have in the last few years adopted a little sying when talking to God. I ask "God please be very clear when you speak to me in regards to ________, I am a little slow sometimes and reading signs does not come easy". Funny enough every time I have done it he is very direct in His answer. No, I did not have a burning bush experience but I did happen to hear a sermon or read a book or verse, or hear from a friend.

I remember when I was trying to make a decision to leave my job; we had recently purchased our first home and leaving would be logically crazy. However, going to work was a burden, I felt a heaviness everytime I entered my office...a sadness. So I prayed and I talked to friends. Now you have to be very careful when you are praying for something and the people you chose to share with or ask advice from. If they are not in tune with God, you will get thrown of course.

Well I spoke to my friend and I told her that I did not know what to do. I said I had not heard clearly from God what He wanted for me. Her response " Well, I have not had devotion yet, but let me see what my devotional is saying today. And that is when God spoke. After she finished reading she hung up, later she told she was so shocked that she felt she could not add anything to what God had just said.

I have kept those words since I left my job and whenever I am feeling overwhelmed I read them and then remind God of what He said.

Don't get stuck in that place of indecision. Make a choice today and trust
God. Stop worrying about what you have no control over and trust God! Yes,
the short-term result of your choice may be painful. But, Sis, fear not.
God will give you grace to endure and courage to hold your ground. You've
put this off long enough. Listen, counterfeit peace is worse than no peace
at all because you live in fear knowing that at nay moment it could change.
Whoever you are today, do what you need today - do what you need today - do
what you need and know to do. Let God work out the details. He is there -
on the other side of that choice-waiting to pick up the broken pieces!
Trust God!


This was a time (not the only time) when God spoke to me. Have you ever had a time when God spoke

Writer's Workshop: Soundtrack of my life

This week's writing prompt from Mama Kat is creating a soundtrack of your life with 10 songs. Here is my attempt:

1.If I can help somebody, as I pass along,If I can cheer somebody, with a word or song,If I can show somebody, how they're travelling wrong,Then my living shall not be in vain. Mahalia Jackson

I really love this song. I think about my life and if at the end of it I did not make a change then I did not live a life worth living. When we reach out to others to help, cheer, guide without looking for anything in return you in turn are also touched and sometimes forever changed. So if there is a legacy that I would like to leave to my kids would be one of service to others.

2. Open the eyes of my heart, Lord Open the eyes of my heart I want to see You, Michael Smith

I want to see God in my life every aspect of my life. Happiness, sadness, confusion, anger it is important that in every area of my life I find an opportunity to find God at work. And He is always at work even when we don't understand what is going on. I want God to open the eyes of my heart to see the beauty in people and in the world and to love with out prejudice or bias. To love as God loves.

3. You are my strength when I am weak, You are the treasure that I seek, You are my all in all , Dennis Jernigan

God is a constant source of strength always especially when I feel weak and vulnerable. He has given me strength do things that I would never have done in my own strength. This is also the song that touched my daughter's heart and helped her accept the Lord in her life

4 Love,So many people use your name in vain
Love,Those who have faith in you sometimes go astray
Love, Through all the ups and downs the joys and hurts
Love, For better or worse I still will choose you first Musiq Soulchild

Not to be corny but love really makes the world go round. I am a hopeless romantic always choosing too see the possibility of love. I am a sucker for a good love story, tissues and sobs all the way.

5. There's always gonna be another mountain,I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be a uphill battle, Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose
Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb Miley Cyrus

This is a motivational song for me in regards to my business. I have to keep climbing even when I want to give up and keep believing that I am going to be a success. I am going to appreciate the challenges and bumps along the way when I am a success.

6. In my daughter's eyes I am a hero,I am strong and wise and I know no fear
But the truth is plain to see, She was sent to rescue me
I see who I wanna be
In my daughter's eyes Martina McBride

I have been blessed with three beautiful daughters that make me feel so important and they have no idea how each of them individually bring so much to my life. The really have no idea how they lift my spirits , and make my heart smile. They keep me laughing out loud.

7. Pass you by, see you smile and I must admit I get
So emotional, I think I’m falling for you
Bought a pillow for my room (I thought about you)
Heard Alicia sing a tune (I thought about you)
It sends my rocket to the moon
Every time I think about you Luther Vandross Think about you

I have been married for 15 years and my hubby was my prom date. I like the idea of thinking of our love as new and fresh it keeps us from falling into a rut. It especially helps when I really want to throw him over a cliff, then I think maybe I will keep him.

8. Here and now, I promise to love faithfully (Faithfully)
You're all I need, Here and now
I vow to be one with thee (You and me), hey
Your love is all (I need) I need Luther Vandross Here and Now
This was the song that I danced to at my wedding. Enough said!

9. You find your faith has been lost and shaken
You take back what's been taken
Get on your knees and dig down deep
You can do what you think is impossible
Keep on believing, don't give in
It'll come and make you whole again
It always will, it always does
Love is unstoppable Rascal Flats Unstoppable
This is a song that so encouraging, I have my moments of being depressed but I don't like to stay there and songs like these keep me going . I also try to encourage others, funny enough I found that event when i encourage others despite what may be going on in my own life I am in turn encouraged.

10. Baby, Baby, Baby oooooh Justin Beiber

This song made it on my list because it is the current song on replay at my house. I don't what it is about this guy but my 4 year old is gaga over him.